tion from Yang Change According January 12th.—A supplementary peti-
to a communication received from the Board of Rites, every official recommended to fill a vacancy as Taou-tae, Che-foo, Che-chow, or Che-been, must remain a year in the province to which he has been appointed, in order that it may be seen whether ho is able to undertake an ardu po st, or is merely fit for a light one. This rue must henceforth be strictly adhered (2) Tso Tsung-tang presents a supplementary petition, Examining into the suicide' of Major Kin-sin, at Kaon-kea~ paon, I find that he was one of the military Officers appointed to keep the people in subjection at Yen-sny, in the province of Shen-se; and his death, which ocourred in the 9th month of the 8th year of the present reign, caused a vacancy in that office. The then acting Imperial Envoy Muh-too-shen, petitioned the Emperor that Lo Fa-ko, whose name stood first on the list of candidates, should fill the vacancy. Now, according to a communication received from Board of War in reply, they have not yet been clearly informed of the present rank of this officer who is thus Tecommended for promotion, and there are no means ascertaining the facts of the case. They add, that the case ought to be minutely and clearly investigated, and the result embodied in a petition.
Since receiving this order from the Board to examine into the case, I have also received a communication from the Commander-in-chief at Shanse, named Nuy Ching-kwan, who has minutely examined into the successive steps of Lo Fa-ko's promotion in corroboration of my petition, proving my statement of the case to be correct. In addition to this communication forwarded to the Board, I venture to beseech your Majesty to take this case into consideration, The Emperor replies that the Board of War shall deliberate on the matter.
January 13th.—Lew Chang-yew presents a supplementary petition. The General appointed to the command of the troops at Yew-keang-chin, named Chow Shingchuen, is at present in command of the Cantonment in Kwang-se, and cannot fill his new appointment immediately. In consequence of this, Whang Chung-king has been appointed to act for him for the present; who, although he has not, as yet, committed any error in the transaction of business, will nevertheless find it difficult to avoid remissness if he should remain at the post for any length of time.
Thave been informed that General Ked-loo-td-san, Assistant Adjutant-General at Tsing-chow, is upright in disposition and intelligent,' and displays ability in co1 trolling the soldiers under his commenc I therefore implore Heaven (the Emperor) graciously to permit hu to act as Gener: at Yew-Kkeang-chin, As the affairs of the Cantonment require the presence of an officer in order to their proper arrangement, Irespectfully pray your Majesty to issue instructions on this subject.
The Emperor replies—Let the petition be granted, The Board of War has received the necessary information. Respect this.
(2) Lew Chang-yew presents a supplementary petition. I have received a despatch from the Board to the effect that, on the first day of the tenth month of the eleventh year of the present reign, an Imrial Edict was issued, ordering Fuh-urh-Evro-chun, the Criminal Judge of iowan to come up to Peking to await orders, and ordering Yen Shoo-sun to fill the vacancy consequent upon his removal from office,
his despatch forwarded to me, is fully Now, Fuh-urh-kw5-chun, recording to aware that he ought reverently to obey your Majesty's orders, and immediately get out on his journey, and he therefore requests me to send an official at once to fill his place. I find on examination, that Yen Shoo-sin cannot, for some time, go to that province, Fuh-urh-kwé-chun' must necessarily go up to Peking, and the duties of his office as Criminal Judge must be discharged by some official sent temporarily for that purpose, in order that the importance of official business may be maintained. I find on examination that Seay Ko-chaou, the Taoutae of Yew-keang, is possessed of deep and accurate knowledge and ability, and may be entrusted to fill the office for the present; and that Ling-kwan, expectant Taoutai, who is both active and diligent, may be allowed to fill the post vacated by the latter official.
Besides sending despatches to these officials, it is my duty to present this supplementary petition.
(3) 1 Hen Tsze-yang, the Literary Officer of Szechuen, reverently kneel and petition, informing your Majesty that the examinations for the year are now complete, and presenting the report for your Majesty's perusal.
T humbly submit that, when in the ixth month of the present year, I returned to this province, the examinations both in the Eastern and Northern districts had terminated, and I wrdte a despatch on the subject, for your Majesty's information. After [had forwarded that despatch, Li mediately rode express to the Western part of the province, to conduct the examinations at Keuug-chow, Ya-chow, and {Ning-ysen-foo, where, sezording to custom, the yearly and triennial examinations are both held.
Now, in the middle period of} the ninth month, the examinations at these places were all brought to an end. A literary spirit was manifested at Keang-chow, at Ming-shan in Ya-chow, and at Se-chang in Ning-yuen, almost to the same degree as in the Eastern parts of the province; and besides, there were several districts which ranked second to these in the display of literary talent.
In the Military examinations, in the use of the Bow, in Horsemanship, and in general dexterity, the youth of the chief city of Keung-chow excelled, and other places ranked second to this. At each place where I have held an examination, I have strictly shut every door and closed up every way of approach, in order that Mose graduates who, in. forgetfulness of their duty to the public recommended unqualified candidates, might be discovered and degraded. always search out those who write themes for others, together with those who assume false names, and I hand them over to the proper authority in order to be dealt with rigorously, in order that other candidates may strictly obey the rules, When these examinations are over, 1 go by express to the provincial city, in order to hold the triennial examination for Ching-too. students for the degree of Keusin, and The present is the year for sclectin
the candidates must be strictly examined in order to cut off those who are undeserving of promotion. Again 1 return from Keen-chang and the surrounding districts to the provincial city, the by-roads by which journey being daugerotis and difficult. to travel by. Within the boundary of Meenning are two mountains, and men like monkeys, hoare all nevertheless quiet, and do not venture out of their nests to cause disturbance. In autumn the crops there are most abundant, sufficient to soothe your Majesty's breast, he annual examinations in the Province of Sze-chuen being all-completed, and the transactions at each place being reverently transcribed in accordance with my duty, kneel and present my petition for your Moajesty's perusal, (4) Wang Win-shan_ presents a supplementary petition to the following effect, he Province of Hoo-nan, at the first payment of tribute, the name of a former Ohe-been of Ling-ling, viz, Hoo Ting-hwa, appears on the list, as having paid 83,000 Taels. jon I find that this entry has reference to the expenditure of an officer who lived at the beginning of the reign of Been-fung. When the Kwang-se rebels sneaked off to Ling-ling in Hoo-nan, which was the first place in which they caused disturbance, the expen: consequent upon driving' them off were very great; and the amount received from the Treasury not being much, it was necessary to borrow money from the country gentlemen and merchants, under a promise that it should be returned when peace was established; all of which is already on record. Afterwards, however, as the money in the Treasury was small in quantity, none was granted for the purpose, although frequently asked All this took place many years ago since itis not convenient to levy a tax, only resource is to implore your Majesty to add to the number of Civil and Military officials, and thus the meri torious zeal of these persons in the public service will never be forgotten.
Now, I find that in the 9th year of the present reign, the Board of Revenue, with the consent of your Majesty established a new regulation, to the effect that in return for levies made in any province, the number of graduates should not be added to more than once. I think that at the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.